8 Nov 2019 10:11

Russian ministry sees BAM/Transsib needing 4 GW, doesn't rule out building power plant in Far East

MOSCOW. Nov 8 (Interfax) - Russia's Energy Ministry does not rule out the possibility that new generating facilities will need to be built in the country's Far East to supply power for the modernized Baikal-Amur Mainline (BAM) and Trans-Siberian Railway (Transsib).

"Under the comprehensive plan for the federal project that the Transport Ministry is working on, and [on which] we are co-executors, there is a big challenge for power supply to the eastern area of operations of railways. There are two stages. The first is now in the active stage of implementation - these are 18 measures. The second is more significant," the deputy head of the electricity development department at the Energy Ministry, Vyacheslav Skulkin said.

"We have now formed a working group. Russian Railways (RZD) was sent a shortlist of loads. It is now being revised, but in total this is about 4 GW of additional capacity in Siberia and the Far East to supply haulage of trains," Skulkin said at a meeting on the development of infrastructure in Russia's regions at the Federation Council on Thursday.

"We plan to compile a list of measures for these loads in two to three months. Among other things, we don't rule out the need to build generating facilities in the Far East Federal District. In Siberia, we'll probably make do with the haulage we have," Skulkin said.